How to avoid ticks while camping
Prepare for a bad year of ticks
2020 had its fair share of trial, but 2021 has a few trials reserved as well. One unpleasant one is an uncommonly bad tick season in north central Washington. If you’re preparing for late spring and early summer camping trips, it’s going to be imperative to know how to avoid ticks while camping.
#1: Dress correctly
Ticks can latch on to any exposed skin, so the goal is to cover as much skin as possible. Tuck your pant legs into your socks, and your shirt into your pants. Wear light colored clothing so ticks will be easily visible on your clothing. It is also wise to wear a hat – ticks love to burrow in along hairlines and on your scalp.
#2: Choose your path wisely
That patch of long grass may look enticing and adventuresome, but it is also a haven to ticks just waiting to find their next host. Stick to the center of the trail with well packed down dirt. Ticks are most likely to be found in long grasses, shady areas of overgrowth, and old damp piles of leaves.
#3: Shower soon after being outdoors
If there are loose ticks, this will help wash them off. In addition, this gives you an excellent opportunity to do a detailed check to make sure ticks haven’t caught a ride (see next tip).
#4: Inspect for ticks daily
You will want to inspect all members of your camping party (including furry companions) for ticks each day. Ticks are most commonly found in armpits, backs of knees, around the waistband, in bellybuttons, between the legs, in and around ears, and on the scalp. Closely examine these areas. If you find a tick don’t panic. If ticks are removed within 24 hours there is very little chance of disease transmission. Always remember to pack a pair of tweezers for your camping trip – removing the tick with tweezers will help ensure you leave no piece of the body behind.
#5: Keep away the pests
Keeping your RV and campground pest free is one of the best ways to keep it tick free. Ticks feed on the mice and chipmunks that like to take up residence in our RVs, sheds, and outdoor gear storage areas. Avoid the pests, avoid the ticks.
